WIREDGOV

The Deputy Minister for Farming and Food, Rebecca Evans, has announced that livestock markets in Wales will be able to apply for a grant to upgrade their facilities to enable them to display TB information of animals being sold.

The “Informed Purchasing” grant will help markets purchase equipment, such as display boards and screens, where the TB history of animals can be displayed.

Rebecca Evans said:

“Our approach to tackling bovine TB in Wales involves a comprehensive range of measures working in partnership with the industry. These include annual testing, cattle movement restrictions, free biosecurity advice to farmers, and badger vaccination, and this grant is another tool we are offering. Since 2009, there has been decline in the number of new herd incidents and total number of animals slaughtered for TB control in Wales, which clearly demonstrates our eradication programme is working.

“Introducing any new animal to a herd can be a potential disease risk. For some time we have been encouraging farmers to exercise caution when buying cattle and to ask for information about the disease history of an animal and its herd of origin before purchasing it. All herds in Wales are tested at least once a year but herds in some parts of Great Britain are tested less frequently. Therefore, it is particularly important that farmers question the TB history of an animal when purchasing stock from outside Wales and should only express an interest in cattle which has been pre movement tested.

“This grant will help enable markets to make this information readily available at the point of sale to help farmers to make more informed buying decisions and consider what precautions they may need to take.”

The application window is now running as of yesterday (20 April) until 1 June.  Successful applicants can receive up to 50% of the eligible costs. The maximum amount of funding is £2,500 per site.

The grant can also be used for other activities, such as advice to buyers and events, which will encourage farmers to share TB information.

More information is available on the Welsh Government's Bovine TB page or through contacting the grant manager on 0800 5283300 orbovinetb@wales.gsi.gov.uk.